I don't know if you want to post them to the blog. Here's the link...
Love, Henri
Of course I want to post these! The action-oriented music and tooth-brushing is must-see video! See Bob in this Day Two video at :08!!!
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By Henri (Bob's grandson) Hey Marty, the YouTube videos I made while we were with Bob are now posted on my YouTube channel. Sorry for the wait! I don't know if you want to post them to the blog. Here's the link... Love, Henri By Marty Of course I want to post these! The action-oriented music and tooth-brushing is must-see video! See Bob in this Day Two video at :08!!!
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By Marty Sunday 8/31 - Bob pulled out of Lima in spectacular weather. He said it was truly the most beautiful day of riding he'd encountered. Unfortunately, he felt his bike was not performing and after 10 miles, he turned around and returned to Lima. Days riding: 23 (I'm counting Sunday, even though it was a round trip from/to Lima) Local scene in Lima: "Palpable" excitement due to the kickoff of the hunting season. Bob says people have flown in from all over, and visitors are interacting with ranchers at Jan's cafe, and asking all sorts of questions about hunting options, recommendations, etc. Bob's plan: Spend Monday getting a ride to Dillon to have the bike looked at/repaired. On Tuesday, pick up the freeze-dried food waiting for him at the Lima post office (which he'd previously planned to abandon), and keep moving on the trail. Name of very tame (but enormous) steer who spent the night sleeping in the grass behind the Lima motel: Willie (More on Willie after his photo) PhotosBob said that Willie was hand-raised by a couple from Calgary. They arrived in Lima and stayed in an RV parking area behind Bob's Lima Motel. The owners offered to let the couple put Willie in a corral for the night, but the couple declined, saying that Willie would be happy to sleep in the grass.
Bob said that Willie was literally led around with a leash, and he regrets not getting photos. Willie relaxed in the grass through the night while his owners slept in the RV. Willie (short for "Wild West Willie") has made appearances all over Canada and has been ridden in the Rose Bowl Parade. By Marty Summary info: Friday 8/29 - From Elkhorn to Banack State Park Sat 8/30 - from Banack State Park to Lima, Montana (with assistance) Reason assistance needed: Major lightning, while on road, no shelter in sight Days riding: 22 Days away from home: 37 Places near Lima where pie was consumed: 2 Places near Lima where the pie was good: 1 Descriptive quality of shelter in Lima: "It resembles the Bates Hotel." The pie story: My family (Marty's) drove to and from Montana to visit relatives in Butte when I was growing up. We always stopped for pie in Lima. We lived for that pie, as it was always good and something to look forward to on the long road trips from Arizona. I was hoping the pie in Lima was still good. Bob was disappointed in the pie at Jan's (which is the place we always stopped), but he loved the pie at Dell (at the Calf-A) (which was recommended in the Tour Divide planning book). The lightning story: Bob said he was "chased by thunder and lightning" for 20 miles on the road toward Lima. He stopped at the Calf-A in Dell for pie and was pitied by all given the torrential rain and thunder. When the weather cleared, he jumped on his bike to head for Lima. Unfortunately the storm immediately resumed, with lighting and riding conditions that Bob described as "miserable and one of the most harrowing rides ever". Bob ended up pulling into a home site (the only one around) and met a family (a trapper with nine children). The family gave him a ride into Lima. Photos from Bannack & LimaBy Marty Bob is now in Elkhorn Hot Springs, and appears to be 1-3 days from the Montana border... Almost into Idaho! The Elkhorn Hot Springs resort features rustic living, a natural hot spring that feeds the pools (hot spring temperature is 120 degrees), and a full breakfast -- for $35/night! I'm amazed at how far Bob has come on this journey! I'm not sure if Bob will be in Lima, Montana in one day or two... we lost our phone connection tonight. So - Bob will be in Lima, Montana in a few days. He'll pick up a package of exciting freeze-dried foods at the post office. I have a few things to write about Lima: 1. Pie 2. Pie So stay tuned! (And enjoy the photos from Elkhorn Hot Springs, below.) By Marty Bob is spending tonight camping near the Great Divide. He sent along two amazing photos, one from Butte (this morning) and one from his current camping location. Bob is still teamed up with Hans and Denise! Bob and Rob Leipheimer, who owns a bike shop in Butte, MT. Bob says Rob was INCREDIBLY helpful. (Previous research indicated that this was a key place to stop to get quality bike assistance on the trail!) (Of course prior to this we knew of Rob's brother Levi (famous pro cyclist), but now Rob is center stage!) By Marty Bob arrived in Butte on Monday 8/25, after some major climbs! He rode with Hans and Denise. Equipment report: He wants to have his "shifters" looked at. (At the shop owned by Levi Leipheimer's brother.) Days on trail: 18 Days away from home: 32 Fountains of youth recently visited: 1 Arrivals that included bullets: 1 Yes, bullets. Upon arriving into Butte, Bob heard serious gunfire overhead. It was not something he was excited about. He reports shots fired with multiple caliber levels. Like military-grade machine gun type of fire! Any sane person would have jumped in their car... oh wait... Bob didn't have a car... Welcome to the WILD WEST! Photos follow... (no photos of the gunfire... sorry...) PhotosBy Marty So today is Sunday and Bob stayed in Helena through this morning due to bad weather. He was planning to ride with Hans and Denise today. He will be in Butte Montana in two days if all goes as planned. I am sending a drop-shipment of freeze-dried food to Lima, Montana tomorrow, which he'll pick up in another few days. Quotes from Bob"Stuck In Helena Still" - ... "Could be a country song would contain references to large amounts of beer, Montana rednecks, days at the Days Inn. Its seriously pissing down rain, any thoughts of riding would be foolish. I''m having serious cabin fever and cannot wait to be back on the trail sore ass and all..." Reply to an e-mail from Marty when she indicated that next it would be her turn for a "bucket list" type of trip - ... "You can have a bucket list trip but only one that includes exposure to bears, countless biting insects, numerous flesh wounds, mechanical breakdowns, extreme weather shifts, freeze dried food, sleep deprivation, saddle sores etc etc in order to be fair." Helena PhotosBob loves this family - from Germany - Mom (Romy), Dad (Uwe) and two youngsters riding cross-country. The kids (Phileas - with Montana atlas, and Mika - younger son) ride in a trailer and they stop every few hours to give the kids a stretch. Bob has seen them a few different times and says the kids are "beyond cute". By Marty (with some quotes from Bob) Look at Bob's progress! Woo hoo! Bob made it to Helena on Wednesday 8/20, after a 40-mile day with some serious climbs. As the post title will indicate, the Delorme InReach device (supposedly highly reliable, able to send/receive communications anywhere in the world, able to alert emergency responders if an "emergency" button is pressed), is dead. Bob consulted with multiple people including Engineers from Germany and I.T. guys from Bellingham. He says he had about 8 different people look at it. Once in Helena, he spent some time on the phone with Delorme customer support. *** Sorry for the lack of photos -- I will ask Bob to send me some photos for the next post. Bob enjoyed the care package that was couriered by Paige, especially the cookies. Much thanks to Paige for Helena transport and delivery! Bob's Delorme Report"Just off the phone with Scott G. from Delorme and after a long session he finally admitted that the device is defective. No money back but they are shipping a new device to our home address along with a ups return authorization for the old unit. I will ship the old unit today from Helena don't worry about returning it I will take care of that. I do need to demand credit for this period of non-function. its the best I can do for now. Thus no contact or emergency service for the moment. Only option would be to go to a spot device which Hans has and uses without problems." Marty's Equipment Advice (if it's not already obvious)Don't buy Delorme. Buy the "Spot" device which has worked flawlessly for Hans. Hangin' in Helena - 3 NightsBob will stay in Helena through Saturday. The weather on the road ahead does not look pretty. Equipment UpdatesThe latest derailleur is holding up very well.
Problem with the first derailleur: Bob installed an after-market part that he thought would give him more power going up hills (something like that, anyway), and the use of that part put too much pressure on derailleur #1, thus causing it to fail (on day 1) Problem with the 2nd derailleur: It was not the correct part and was jury-rigged. Bad idea. Bike status Bob needs brake pads, but all else is "flawless" Bob's bike: It's a Salsa 29-er hard tail. This is all I know. Bob and the technicians along the way (and as you can see, he's spoken with many) all seem to agree that this is an excellent choice for the Great Divide Trail. By Marty Monday 8/18 -- Bob has been hitting the trail daily and is now in Lincoln, Montana. Consecutive days riding: 6 Total days riding: 14 Days away from home: 25 Location of the Unabomber: Lincoln, Montana About Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber), from Wikipedia: "In 1971, he moved to a remote cabin without electricity or running water, in Lincoln, Montana, where he lived as a recluse while learning survival skills in an attempt to become self-sufficient. From 1978 to 1995, Kaczynski sent 16 bombs to targets including universities and airlines, killing three people and injuring 23..." Bob's camping in a pleasant area and plans to be in Helena, Montana on Wednesday. He will see Matt's girlfriend Paige and receive some supplies and a small care package. Fun photos from family visit (plus a current location photo)By Marty Bob is on the road again, and on Sunday August 17th made it to Ovando, Montana. He set up his tent right next to a museum. Apparently there are some other nice features in Ovando, but our cellular connection was not adequate for me to pick up on any details. Quote from Bob: "Arrived 8/17 about 5pm, only 35 miles today but legs and lungs tired from earlier riding. My family was wonderful they really helped boost my morale was hard to see them leave last night. I will be a bit off route next few days aiming for Helena and avoiding some extreme climbing." Photos below show some lovely country. The weather today was dry, big relief after the last several days in the rain. |
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AuthorsBob Schneider of Bellingham, Washington, has decided to take on the epic Great Divide Trail during summer 2014. This is a bike ride that starts in Banff, Alberta and ends in Antelope Wells, New Mexico. |